← The Imaginal Act, thirty days

Week 3 · Witness · Day 17 of 30

People and places

Today's intent (planned)

Name the people and places that belong on your bridge, and send one invitation the other person is free to decline.

The practice

  1. Set today's look-for in reality/log/<today>.md.
  2. Ask: who has done something like this aim, or could do it with me? Which place would make the rep easier: a library, a class, a room where people already work this way?
  3. Pick one person and one place.
  4. Write the person a short, honest message: what you are working on, one clear ask, an easy way to say no. Send it, or set a time to.
  5. Under ## Bridge in reality/aims/<slug>.md, add - People and places: and, under it, indented two spaces, - person: a friend who finished a novel — ask how she kept going (wish) and - place: the library reading room on Saturdays (wish) (Studio: Bridges). Change wish to reached once you have actually made contact.

Why it works

Meaning

Nobody builds a life alone. Reaching out is an act of trust, and asking well is a gift to the other person too: it leaves them free. Your part is the ask. Their answer belongs to them, and either answer can be received with grace.

Mechanism

Watching people like you succeed is a studied source of belief in your own ability, and the rooms and peers around you shape behavior more than willpower does. Doing a rep with someone adds a cue and a reason to show up. A no is information about fit or timing. Plan your own ask; never plan to steer someone else's choice.

Tonight (reported)

If you sent the message, add an entry at the top of reality/witness.md headed ### <today> <time> · move, and one line to reality/evidence.md. Otherwise use · rep or · lesson. End it with - Bridge: <slug> · Domain: <domain> (Studio: Witness). Write only what the other person chose to share with you.

  • Happened (fact): What you sent, and any reply.
  • Meant (my meaning): What asking meant to you.
  • Did (action): Only what is done.
  • Next (planned): Your next step with this person or place.
  • Did it come? In the log: - Did it come: yes, no or not marked.